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China export controls have frozen antimony shipments into the EU since October

China export controls have frozen antimony shipments into the EU since October

Customs data revealed on Thursday that China hasn't shipped antimony to the European Union since October. This is after the dominant supplier implemented export controls which have fueled a rise in the global price of the strategic metal.

China's antimony restrictions, which began last year, will account for nearly half of the global supply by 2023. Antimony is used in semiconductors and solar power equipment, as well as flame retardants.

Cristina Belda is a senior analyst with the information agency Argus. She said that the price of regulus grade I material has increased by over 300% compared with a year earlier.

Beijing announced in August that it would impose export restrictions on antimony, and other related elements. The reason given was national security. The initial restrictions took effect in September. This sparked a rush to stockpile, which caused shipments in August and September to increase.

Since December, China has banned the export of antimony to the U.S.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has not responded to a comment request immediately.

The Netherlands was the largest EU importer from China of antimony in 2023. The Netherlands brought in 3,011.98 tons. In 2024, shipments fell to 1,016.65 tonnes, with no shipments made since October.

Exports of Chinese antimony to Europe have been halted for five months. This is different from the previous round of Beijing's mineral restrictions when exports were slowly resumed within a few month as exporters received new required licenses.

Customs data shows that China's total exports of antimony in 2024 will drop by 24.1%, to 38,632 tonnes.

Since the September restrictions, antimony exports have continued to Brazil, Thailand, and Russia. Reporting by Lewis Jackson and Ella Cao; editing by Tony Munroe, Lincoln Feast and Lincoln Feast.

(source: Reuters)